New translator software bridges language barrier

Travellers who own an iPhone and iPod Touch are now better equipped to handle the language barrier overseas with the new language translator software specially designed for their handy gadget.

Called “Point Don’t Shout”, the picture-based dictionary application shows users the translated word and a picture of the word being translated.

The software can convert more than 750 terms (with more new content expected in later versions) in nine languages: English, Chinese, French, Finnish, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish. Travellers can use any language combination when doing the translation. It has 12 categories, including eating and drinking, entertainment, people and places and shopping among others.

To download the software, iPhone and iPod users need to have an iPhone OS 2.2 or later. The software is available for US$.99 at the iTunes App Store.